ations. AN'hose is the law, what power sustains it, how it came into being— all this lies outside the domain of science. Thus science never rises above material things; and by remembering this — by remembering that, after all, the field of science (of course we meau physical science) is limited — we see that an iniluction made in its ]jroper field does not justify any conclusions in fields outside its limits.
Let us take the case of man. Science, looking at liim in his physical aspect, tells us that he consists of several pounds of salts and earths, combined with a larger number of gallons of water. It tells us by what chemical affinities these commonplace materials are held together, how they operate upon one another, by what processes the waste is renewed, and by what a mass of curious mechanical contrivances man's body, considered as a machine, performs its operations. If we ask how it comes to think, science tells us much about the brain ; how like it is to a galvanic trough, and by what an elaborate, threefold apparatus of nerves it sends its commands to every part of the body. But when we ask how it is that the brain does consciously what the vol- taic battery does unconsciously; how it is that these earths and salts, when combined into a man, know that they are a man, we get only the unmeaning answer that it is the result of organization. But give science all the bottles in a chemist's shop, and it cannot organize a sentient being out of them. In fact, it owns itself that life is a mystery. It can tell how life works, but not what life is. Life is as much beyond the reach of sci- ence as is God. It knows the laws of life, but no more.
jNIan therefore, when considered only physically, con- tains more than science can master. But is life the only mystery in man ? Why does man think ? Why does he speculate upon his own actions? Why muse upon the purpose of all things here below ? Of all beings upon this earth, man ahme is self-conscious. He alone knows that he exists: he alone feels that he exists for
For our own part, we cannot imagine a perfect Being a purpose, and can and does consciously interl'ore with like the Deity working except by law, and therefi>re [ other things in order to shape them to his own ends, we read all tlieories aliout ev<duti(.n and selection, and | He alone has not the mere ru.liments, but the full gift the formation of the solar system by slow degrees out of a conscience, which is always interfering willi him, ol a vast nebula, ami the like, with no prejudice regard- j and giving him endless aimoyance, because it will pass ing them, however intended, simply as attempted an- j judgment upon his actions, and condemn much that he swers to the (luestion, In what way— l)y what second- | does.
ai-y processes — did (iod create and shape the world? j Now it is in connection with this higher world that If, after reading the arguments, we conclude by think- miracle has its proper place. It distinctly has reference ing them often ingenious rather than true, and put the to man as a being in whom there is more than mere liook down with the Scotch verdict. "Not jjroven," we | material forces at work. Prove that tlierc is nothing do not tliercfore tliink that science is on the wrong more in man than salts and earths and water, and track, nor doubt that all these imjuiries t\o in tlic main tliere would be no jilace for miracle. Now physical sci- give us juster views of (iod's method of working. But ence stops at proving this. Tlie most skilfiil analyst miracle seems to us to beUMig to another field of thought, could get nothing more out of man than salts, earths, and to be outside tiie domains of science. For we vent- and water; but then, confessedly, he labors un.lcr this lire to ask. Is the material universe everytliing? Is disadvantage, that lie cannot begin his analysis until there nothing but matter? nothing but didl, inert parti- life, and with it tlie sentient soul, has withdrawn from cles, acted upon by material forces— attraction, repulsion, I the machine. All he can examine is the residuum only.
MIRACLES
315
MIRACLES
We want some science therefore which can examine nan while he is alive, and report upon him. For phys- ical science is not the sole science. There are other sciences, and each is authoritative only upon its own domain. The psychologist, who examines into the workings of man's inner nature, is quite as worthy of a hearing as the physicist, who examines into the mate- rials out of which he is composed. iVe siitor ultra cre- pidam — a homely but wise motto, which a rising and progressive study, such as is physical science, in the hours of its tirst triumphs, is in danger of neglecting. After all, a man of only one science tries to see with only one eye, and to walk with only one leg. Before we can form a true estimate of the question that so deeply concerns us — What is man's place and work and purpose in the world '? — we must include a far wider in- duction than that offered by physical science.